Wiper Device for an Applicator for a Cosmetic Product

ABSTRACT

A one-piece wiper device for an applicator assembly for paste-like cosmetic product that includes an applicator provided with a gripping rod and a means for applying said cosmetic product; a container having a neck in which said applicator slides along a longitudinal axis XX. The wiper device has a cylindrical shape adjustable inside the neck and is provided with a first flange for attachment thereof on the edge of the neck and a second flange for attachment thereof on an inner shoulder of the neck and a lip protruding inside said container. The device according to the invention also includes an outer external protrusion externally supporting at least one additional element suitable for coming into contact with the inner surface of the shoulder of the neck when the device is engaged on said neck.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wiper device for an applicator assembly for applying a liquid, paste-like or powdered cosmetic product such as mascara or eyeliner.

PRIOR ART

An applicator assembly of this type conventionally comprises a bottle intended to contain the cosmetic product and provided with a threaded neck onto which a cap may be screwed. This cap bears a rod, the end of which is provided with an applicator for the product to be applied. Thus, the applicator is immersed in the product contained in the bottle and preferably, an applicator assembly of this type further comprises a wiper component for wiping (or wringing out) the rod and/or the applicator when it is taken out of the bottle.

In general, the efficiency and the main function of a wiper are linked to the geometry of the wiper. The external geometry of the wiper must allow it to be easily fitted in the neck of the holder or container, while keeping it firmly in position during the movements for inserting and removing the applicator into/from the container. The internal geometry of the wiper must be adapted both to the external geometry of the applicator, to its mechanical properties and to the characteristics of the product to be applied. In addition, the efficiency of a wiper is linked to the material from which it is made.

The wiper component or wiper used in this type of applicator assembly must allow the excess product on the rod and the applicator to be wiped off while preserving the product load on the applicator. Generally, such a wiper takes the form of a more or less flexible sleeve secured in the neck of the bottle and having an inner wall defining a passage of small, constant diameter at the end for wiping the rod. The wiper is somewhat deformable to allow the applicator to pass through. Such applicators can be found in particular in documents EP 1 066 771, EP 1 221 874 or EP 1 275 322, or FR 3 016 274.

EP 1 275 322 discloses a wiper, one of the features of which consists of an external lip that can be attached under the internal shoulder of the neck. A protruding edge keeps the wiper on the outer edge of the neck. The combined action of these two elements allows the wiper to be held in place both axially and radially on the neck of the container. The problem consists in holding the wiper in place as the rod, and in particular the applicator device, passes through, the latter passing through the narrowed opening of the wiping lip, causing it to deform considerably, subjecting it to a tensile stress. A compromise must therefore be found, and various solutions have already been developed for this purpose. The wiper disclosed in this case has a lip, also referred to as a “hoop” or “harpoon”, which is circular or partially circular. This geometry must be flexible, being flattened as the wiper is put in place in the opening in the neck of the container, and then returning to its natural position under the shoulders inside the neck of the container. Secure holding of the wiper in the neck of the container is therefore linked to the ability of the external lip to resist the removal force applied to the wiper by the applicator as it comes out of the container.

FR 3 016 274 describes a wiper, the part of which positioned inside the container under the shoulder of the neck has special split lips. These lips are particularly flexible and advantageously allow efficient wiping of the rod as it passes through the neck.

All of the current wiper devices disclosed in these patent applications or patents therefore have an external lip, the effectiveness of which will be closely linked to the internal geometry of the neck of the container in which it will be used.

Another problem encountered relates to the disparities in the shape of the containers, in particular at the neck, regardless of the material from which the container is made. These irregularities essentially result from manufacturing, and the dimensional differences can be significant. In addition, the surface state may vary; some containers may have smooth internal surfaces, others being rough. These anomalies can contribute to the wiper being held less securely in the neck.

With more particular regard to bottles or containers made of glass, whatever the quality of production, these bottles have an internal geometry at the shoulders of the neck which is very irregular. The vertical position of the restriction (inner shoulders) relative to the reference surface (upper face of the neck) is never precise and can vary by a few millimeters, more or less. The overhanging surface of the inner shoulders is not even. Furthermore, the fillet radius between the neck opening and the shoulders is very approximate and the dimension thereof is not guaranteed in this type of process.

Plastic containers, especially when made by blow molding, do not make it possible to ensure a regular position of the shoulders inside the neck regardless of the quality of production. These bottles have an internal geometry at the shoulders of the neck which is very irregular. The vertical position of the restriction (inner shoulders) relative to the reference surface (upper face of the neck) is never precise and can vary by a few millimeters, more or less. The overhanging surface of the inner shoulders is not even. Furthermore, the fillet radius between the neck opening and the shoulders is very approximate and the dimension thereof is never guaranteed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and in particular to strengthen the attachment of the wiper on the neck of the container. Thus, the invention relates to a one-piece wiper device for an applicator assembly for applying a paste-like cosmetic product, said applicator assembly comprising: at least one applicator provided with a gripping rod and an application means for applying said cosmetic product; a container having a neck in which said applicator slides along an axis XX referred to as the longitudinal axis, said wiper device having a substantially cylindrical shape that can be fitted inside said neck and being provided with a first flange for attachment thereof on the edge of the neck of the container, and a second flange for attachment thereof on an inner shoulder of the neck, and a lip protruding inside said container.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the second outer flange comprises an annular external protrusion arranged substantially in the vicinity of said internal lip and bearing, externally, at least one additional element capable of coming into contact with the internal surface of the shoulder of the neck when the device is engaged on said neck, such that the wiper device has maximum, optimized contact with the internal surface of the neck, whatever this surface is.

The external protrusion associated with the additional element advantageously makes it possible to make up for the dimensional irregularities of the interior of the neck, while ensuring that the wiper is held in place optimally on the neck.

According to an embodiment of the invention, said additional element comprises a first set of tabs which extend in a plane making an acute angle with the axis XX and which are located at a first distance from the edge of the neck. The tabs allow a surface contact adapted perfectly to the shoulder, even if the latter has surface or dimensional irregularities.

According to another possibility, said additional element comprises an undulating flexible annular strip. This flexible strip fits perfectly against the internal surface of the neck.

According to a further feature, said additional element may also comprise a second set of tabs offset along the axis XX with respect to said first set of tabs. The second set of tabs may have an orientation similar to that of the first set of tabs.

According to a further feature of the invention, a ring is provided at the free end of said first tabs.

The wiper may further include studs or protrusions projecting up from the surface of the additional elements and intended to come into contact with the internal surface of the shoulder of the neck. This aspect allows a better grip of the wiper at this level.

Preferably, the first and/or the second set of tabs comprises between two and sixty-four tabs.

Advantageously, said tabs are angularly distributed regularly around the axis XX.

By way of illustration, the device according to the invention may be made of a vulcanizable rubber or of a silicone or of a thermoplastic elastomer or any other flexible material used by machines for production “by addition of material” such as 3D printers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description below, with reference to the appended figures, which depict:

FIG. 1A, a side view of the wiper device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B, a top view of the wiper device according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10, a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A, a side view of the wiper device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B, a top view of the wiper device according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2C, a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A, a side view of the wiper device according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B, a top view of the wiper device according to the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3C, a perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A, a side view of the wiper device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4B, a top view of the wiper device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4C, a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section showing a wiper device according to the invention in place on the neck of a container;

FIG. 6, a perspective view of a device according to the first embodiment, with studs on the fins;

FIG. 7, a perspective view of a device according to the first embodiment, with protrusions on the fins.

For the sake of clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in all of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIG. 5 shows a wiper device along with a cosmetic product applicator assembly; the assembly comprises in particular an applicator 10 provided with a gripping rod 11 and an application means for applying the cosmetic product 12, as well as a container 13 having a neck 14 in which the applicator 10 slides. The application means 12 may resemble a brush bristling with bristles or spikes which come into contact with the keratin fibers for makeup purposes. The container 13 is moreover closed and filled with a more or less viscous, in particular paste-like, cosmetic product. The container 13 is generally axisymmetric and therefore has a longitudinal axis XX along which the applicator 10 slides; the applicator may of course be rotated in the container. This is how the applicator picks up or becomes loaded with cosmetic product when the application means 12 is in contact with the cosmetic product present inside the container 13. When the applicator 12 is removed from the container 13, by the user, it passes through the neck 14 of the container 13 which is equipped with a wiper device 1 of generally cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape, which can be fitted on the neck 14 of the container 13.

In a known manner, the wiper device 1 has, at a first end, a first annular flange 2 for attaching the wiper device to the outer edge of the neck 14. The first flange allows the wiper device 1 to be retained axially in the neck 14 when the applicator 10 is inserted into the container 13. The wiper device has, in the vicinity of its second end, a second outer flange 3 that can interact with a shoulder 15 formed at the neck 14 of the container 13; the purpose of the second flange 3 is to axially retain the wiper device when the applicator 10 is removed from the container 13.

The application device or brush 12 is dimensioned such that the ends of the bristles or spikes are flush with the inner wall of the wiper 1 at the neck. In order to limit the quantity of cosmetic product taken up on the rod 11, at least one internal lip 4 with a diameter close to that of the rod 11 is generally provided in order to wipe the rod each time the applicator 10 passes, in one direction or the other, through wiper 1. Naturally, various shapes, orientations and dimensions are known for the internal lip 4.

According to the invention, the second flange 3 comprises or is formed of a flexible annular external protrusion arranged substantially in the vicinity of said internal lip 4. Preferably, a similar “altitude” is chosen for the second flange 3 and the internal lip 4. If no lip 4 is present, then the second flange 3 is positioned in the vicinity of the inner end of the wiper, for example at between a quarter and a third of its height measured along the longitudinal axis XX.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show different variants of the invention, more specifically of the second flange 3 which comprises a “circular hoop” or “annular external protrusion” 30. Advantageously, this hoop 30 bears, externally, at least one additional element which may have several shapes. The annular hoop may be continuous or discontinuous around the outer periphery of the body of the wiper 1.

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 10 depict an embodiment according to which the annular hoop 30 is continuous and bears a first set of tabs 31 which extend in a circular plane making an acute angle with the longitudinal axis XX. In other words, the tabs 31 are oriented toward the first flange 2 of the wiper.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C depict the case where the annular hoop 30 is discontinuous around the wiper; each angular segment of the hoop 30 bears a tab 31. Furthermore, a second set of tabs 32 may be provided around the body of the wiper 1. The second set of tabs 32 is axially offset with respect to the first set of tabs 31; the tabs 32 are arranged closer to the upper flange 2 than the tabs 31. Furthermore, the first and/or the second set of tabs is chosen to be angularly offset, based on the fact that for each set, the tabs are regularly angularly distributed.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C differ from FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C by the presence of a ring 33 at the free end of the first tabs 31. It can be seen that the ring 33 is located substantially at the same height as the second tabs 32. The aim is to increase the contact surface between the second flange 3 and the shoulder 15, even and especially if the internal surface thereof has irregularities, or if there are significant dimensional differences at the shoulder.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C also show an advantageous contact surface. In the absence of contact, that is to say when the wiper is not in place on the neck, the additional element is in this case in the form of an undulating flexible annular strip, such as an undulating collar—or ruff—which is capable, in particular but not exclusively, of fitting snugly against all the surface and/or dimensional imperfections mentioned above. Once in contact with the internal surface of the shoulder, the collar is completely pressed against this surface, whatever it may be.

FIG. 6 shows an improved version of the embodiment according to FIG. 1; the improvement consists of a set of studs 310 projecting up from the upper surface of the first set of tabs 31. “Studs” means sort of spikes, the number of which varies as required. These studs help the tabs to gain a better grip on irregular surfaces of the shoulder 15 of the neck 14. Those skilled in the art are therefore free to choose the density of the studs 310. The “upper surface” of the tabs means the surface of the tabs 31 facing the first flange 2.

FIG. 7 also relates to an improvement of the embodiment of FIG. 1; protrusions or reinforcements 320 are in this case provided on the upper surface of the tabs; the protrusions improve and strengthen the contact between the tabs 31 and the surface of the shoulder placed opposite. Protrusions of the same type may be provided on the annular external protrusion or hoop 30.

As regards the number of tabs, the first and/or the second set of tabs preferably comprises between two and sixty-four tabs.

The table below presents the results of tensile tests on various wipers made of NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber), NBR 70 shA.

Type of wiper Bottle 1 Bottle 2 Prior art B1: 21 B1: 25.9 B2: 21.9 B2: 24.8 B3: 19.9 B3: 23.5 Fins and teeth B1: 24 B1: 28.9 B2: 27.9 B2: 29.5 B3: 27 B3: 29.5 Ring B1: 25 B1: 25.9 B2: 26 B2: 26.2 B3: 23.9 B3: 24

The first row of the table relates to a wiper according to the prior art, that is to say not having the features of the invention. The second row of the table relates to a wiper according to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 10 while the third row of the table relates to a wiper as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C. The values are the tensile forces, expressed in newtons, before detachment of the wiper. Column B1 corresponds to bottles or containers for which the height of the neck is variable; column B2 corresponds to bottles with manufacturing defects commonly obtained. In each category, three bottles were tested, all from the same mold. Note that the bottles equipped with wipers according to the invention, “fins and teeth” and “ring”, have a better tensile strength than the bottles according to the prior art.

The plastics most commonly used for containers are PP (polypropylene), PA and PETG (polyethylene terephthalate), which are chosen according to their chemical compatibility with the cosmetic product that the container contains.

Regarding the wiper itself, it is known in industrial manufacturing for the wiper member to be made of a vulcanizable rubber such as NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber). Also used are silicones or thermoplastic elastomers belonging to the classes TPE-S(SEBS, SBS or the like), TPE-V (PP and EPDM) and TPE-U (thermoplastic polyurethane). 

1. A one-piece wiper device for an applicator assembly for applying a paste-like cosmetic product, the applicator assembly comprising: at least one applicator provided with a gripping rod and a brush for applying the cosmetic product; a container having a neck in which the applicator slides along a longitudinal axis XX, the wiper device having a substantially cylindrical shape that can be fitted inside the neck and being provided with a first flange for attachment thereof on the edge of the neck of the container, and a second flange for attachment thereof on an inner shoulder of the neck, and a lip protruding inside the container, wherein the second flange comprises an annular external protrusion arranged substantially in the vicinity of the lip and bearing, externally, at least one additional element configured to contact an internal surface of the inner shoulder of the neck when the wiper device is engaged on the neck, such that the wiper device has maximum, optimized contact with the internal surface of the neck.
 2. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the additional element comprises a first set of tabs that extend in a plane making an acute angle with the longitudinal axis XX.
 3. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the additional element comprises an undulating flexible annular strip.
 4. The wiper device according to claim 2, wherein the additional element comprises a second set of tabs offset along the longitudinal axis XX with respect to the first tabs.
 5. The wiper device according to claim 2, further comprising a ring provided at the free end of the first tabs.
 6. The wiper device according to claim 1, further comprising studs or protrusions projecting up from the surface of the additional elements and/or the annular external protrusion and configured to come into contact with the internal surface of the shoulder of the neck.
 7. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second set of tabs comprises between two and sixty-four tabs.
 8. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the tabs are angularly distributed regularly around the axis XX.
 9. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the wiper device is made of a vulcanizable rubber or of a silicone or of a thermoplastic elastomer. 